Iguodala disses treatment he got from Collins

Iguodala

BY BOB COONEY, Daily News Staff Writer

Posted: October 12, 2012

ORLANDO - While the separation seemed amicable when it happened, it sure has turned a little bit to the ugly side.

Former 76er Andre Iguodala, traded this offseason to the Denver Nuggets as part of the deal that brought center Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia from Los Angeles, said in an interview with Matt Moore, a blogger with CBSSports.com, that, among other things, his time in Philadelphia was draining, particularly under the tutelage of Doug Collins, his coach for his final two seasons.

"I haven't really enjoyed basketball a whole lot the last couple of years," Iguodala said. "Last year was a big year for us, but it was just draining for the criticism to be there every single day."

He also said his former coaches, including Collins, did not want him to shoot three-pointers: "So in Doug Collins' first year, I didn't shoot threes because he was, like, 'I don't want you shooting threes, I don't want that shot.' Last year, I said, 'I'm shooting it.' And what happened? Shot 38 percent from three, top-25 in the NBA from three [he actually shot 39.4 percent, ranked 27th in the league], and I'm supposed to be a non-shooter. You put so much work in and then to be told, 'Don't do what you worked on all summer.' "

It is no secret that Sixers fans never warmed to Iguodala, whether it was because of his standoffish personality or because they perhaps unfairly expected more out of him. Whatever it was, it was pretty apparent that Collins tried to sell Iguodala to the fans and media throughout the season, calling him the best on-ball defender in the league, campaigning for Iguodala to make the All-Star team and all-defensive teams. Iguodala did make his first All-Star appearance last season after being named second-team all-defensive the prior season. Iguodala was on the USA team that won gold in the world championships in 2011 and the Olympic team that captured gold in London this summer.

"I didn't read anything, but my feeling is that I had a wonderful 2 years with Dre," Collins said in response to the interview. "I think he made me a better coach. The thing that I feel great about is that in the 2 years together, before I took the job, I fought long and hard to really talk to Jerry Colangelo and [coach Mike Krzyzewski] about having Dre on the [world] championship team and what he would bring to that team.

"Our first year, we were plus-14 wins [from the previous season] and he was second-team all-defense. Our next year, we go to the seventh game of the conference semifinals, he goes to the All-Star team and wins a gold medal. So I feel great about our time together."

Iguodala and his new teammates will be the season-opening opponent for the Sixers on Oct. 31 at the Wells Fargo Center. Seems the chance for him to get any kind of warm welcome has now been flushed.

Contact Bob Cooney at cooneyb@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobCooney76. For more Sixers coverage, read his blog at philly.com/Sixerville.